www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/leag ... hlxj9.html Good news for the contest. Looks like we will get the top three NRL clubs next year.

www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/leag ... hlxj9.html Good news for the contest. Looks like we will get the top three NRL clubs next year.

The competition only gains any sort of credibility if teams from both hemispheres have to qualify for it. It should be Grand Finalists and League Leaders from both comps.

Well given the uptick in interest from Oz it has gained credibility without that already?

It does either need to be the top 5 for instance or, like another idea I saw on another forum.

A ryder cup type event.

For example 1 week after the gf friday night 1st v 1st for the WCC Saturday/sunday Bottom 8 of SL v lowest 8 in NRL in 9s comp. Monday 2nd v 2nd tuesday 3rd v 3rd Wednesday 4th v 4th Thursday NRL NZ v SL France, friday SL Yorkshire v NRL Queensland saturday SL Lancashire v NRL NSW Sunday SL dream team v NRL dream team with 1 from each of the 12 sides and 5 legends/captains picks all contributing to an overall points tally.

I think trying to make the wcs/WCC our champions league has merit but I also think a week of RL in different forms with different clubs would be a great attention grabber and build up for the game. Ideally but probably a long time away I'd want to see the ryder cup comp plus NRL and SL being different conferences of the same comp

I'd be happy to see a top 4 from each comp in a straight knockout comp. nrl and SL seasons shortened to accomodate.

We need to accommodate the New Zealand Warriors and Catalans Dragons into the WCC to make it truly global.

This would mean top 3 Australian NRL clubs plus NZ Warriors, vs top 3 English SL clubs, plus Catalans Dragons.

Such a competition would make the rugby union crowd pink with envy.

Id say leave it at 3 for now. Give that chance to become established. I like Smokey's idea of a 9's for the bottom 8 clubs of each comp. I'm not sure we're up to Yorks & Lancs competing with Queensland & NSW yet though.

I'd do:
WCC = SL Grand Final winner vs NRL Grand Final Winner
WCS = SL League Leaders vs NRL Minor Premiers
WCS = Challenge Cup winner vs NRL Grand Final runners up

A 9's comp for the bottom 6/8 of SL & NRL.

I'd re-introduce a mid-season War of the Roses Yorkshire v Lancashire 3 match series. But do it properly, where it takes precedence over regular SL games and, aside from genuine injury, England call ups are dependent upon participation by eligible players.

Then after 5-10 years of that we may be in a position whereby Yorks & Lancs could challenge Queensland & NSW.

Both clubs have the chance to play in it already.

If they stick with the top 3, I think a nines tournament with the remaining 5 interested NRL clubs and 4th-8th SL clubs could be a hit.

Don't include the bottom four SL clubs. They should be playing their postponed SL hand the weekend and buy leaving us in the mess we're in now with having to reschedule a mid week game at the business end of the season.

If the Australians are willing to bring their best over here then make them put the Ashes on the line, we have enough club games.

How would we run the Ashes at the same time as the World Club Challenge? Or are you saying a match between the only two professional league's winners is not worth having?

I'm surprised the normally insular NRL clubs have expressed an interest in the WCC.
This can only be good news for Rugby League as long as it doesn't affect Internationals.

Didn't each NRL club get something like £180,000? Could be why more are willing to take part this year.

But if those clubs are not good enough to qualify in the NRL and SL respectively then we will just be devaluing the comp for the sake of accommodation. If the warriors and dragons are bottom 4 at the end of the season they simply don't deserve to be any where near a WCC play off.